Rescue park in Bali home to 29 endangered Sumatran elephants

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News Websites
26 Nov 2022 16:32

Protected in the Mason Elephant Park, 29 elephants from an endangered species enjoy meals, showers, and an exercise routine.

A Sumatran elephant, previously threatened with extinction.

Bali, an Indonesian island, is home to almost 30 rescued Sumatran elephants threatened to become extinct; they are protected at the Mason Elephant Park.

"The park was started 26 years ago to save a number of already captured elephants that were languishing in government camps in Sumatra that were dying," said Nigel Mason, founder of the Mason Adventures tour agency to Anadolu Agency.

Mason added that the park "has brought awareness to the critically-endangered species" allowing "for a successful breeding program to be established here in Bali.

"Our park currently holds a total of 29 elephants that are healthy and in good hands," said Mason, whose 4-hectare park was founded by him and his family in 1997.

The park is home to "critically-endangered Sumatran elephants, six of which were naturally born here," said Wayan Lenny, a senior representative at Mason Elephant Park.

The environment is "carefully landscaped to mimic the original habitat of the elephant’s native home in Sumatra," which is also an Indonesian island, famous for its coffee.

Elephants, Lenny explains, consume about 250 kg of food a day, and live up to 80 years old just like humans. They also have an exercise routine, with trainers taking them for a walk before dinner.

After their stroll, the elephants shower in a big pond in the facility, then go for dinner.

The park, according to Mason, is Asia's first-ever park facility to earn an ACES gold standard accreditation.

"This is a rescue park that has saved the lives of numerous elephants that would otherwise have died. Up to now they’ve had three babies and helped educate thousands of people about their plight," Mason said.

"We are currently the only elephant facility in all of Indonesia that meets these standards," Mason said, emphasizing that "without parks like us, there’s little hope for the critically endangered Sumatran elephant with its declining population of less than 800 left in the wild.